Mia Weigel of Danville Receives One of Lindsey Wilson College's Top Student Leadership Awards

Senior honored for service to campus, Center for Courageous Kids.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (04/28/2025) — Mia Weigel '25 believes in giving it her all as a servant leader, even when things get challenging.

Weigel, a Lindsey Wilson College human services and counseling and psychology double major from Danville, Kentucky, recently received one of the college's top student leadership awards, shortly after receiving another one of the college's top awards.

Known as the L3 Award -- which stands for live, learn and lead -- the award recognizes Lindsey Wilson students and employees who exemplify the spirit to live, learn and lead through in their daily work. Weigel received the award on April 21, at the college's L3 Student Leadership Banquet. Six days earlier, Weigel received the President's Award, which is presented to the graduating senior who in the opinion of the Lindsey Wilson president best embodies the Lindsey Wilson mission.

"I've always admired individuals who have received (a top L3 Award) in the past because they have done so much for the campus," said Weigel, a 2021 graduate of Boyle County High School and the daughter of Michelle Weigel. "I've always wanted to make an impact like they have. Whenever we see individuals leading with such passion and courage, it's something that catches your eye, and you want to pay attention to."

For Weigel, her big impact has come through the Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholars Program, a group of nearly three dozen Lindsey Wilson students involved in leadership development and service in the region.

Weigel said that being a four-year member of the Bonner Scholars Program has been "a transformative experience in every way."

"I am a completely different person because of the Bonner Program," said Weigel, who has been named to the Lindsey Wilson President's List or Dean's List almost every semester she has been an undergraduate student at the college. "It really challenged me to get out of my comfort zone to find my voice."

Weigel has spent a good part of her time in the Bonner Scholars Program serving the Center for Courageous Kids near Scottsville, Kentucky, where she's also received accolades for her service. She's spent two summers at the Center for Courageous Kids and plans to spend a third at the camp that serves children with medical challenges at no charge to the children or their families. Weigel, who is a member of the camp's leadership team, reckons she's served more than 1,700 hours during her four years as a Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholar.

"I could talk to you all day about the Center for Courageous Kids," she said. "It's an amazing place. It's been a privilege to work there because it's life-changing. I think every person should go there at least once in their life. There are so many different families and children with different life stories who have taught me so much."

Weigel said the children she serves are often a source of motivation and energy to her.

"At times, you get mentally and physically tired," she said. "But whenever I would wake up tired, I would say, 'I'm going to keep going because there's so much meaning behind this and I'm serving something for a greater good.' Those children pull at your heartstrings, so you want to do everything in your power to give them the best possible time and send them away from the camp with something magical."

After she graduates from Lindsey Wilson with honors on May 3 and then serves one more summer at the Center for Courageous Kids, Weigel plans to return to the Danville-Boyle County area to work in human services and also prepare to work on a master's degree in counseling.

"It's always been a goal and a passion of mine to serve others effectively," said Weigel.

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